RACING/Dubai World Cup meeting:There were emotional scenes in the winner's enclosure at Meydan today as Victoire Pisa led home a 1-2 for Japan in the Dubai World Cup. The 12-1 shot, trained by Katsuhiko Sumii, was given a fantastic ride by Mirco Demuro and held on by a narrow margin from the front-running Transcend (40-1).
Seventh in the Arc last year, the four-year-old disputed matters from halfway with Transcend, and just got the better of the battle in the shadow of the post to land the spoils in the world’s richest race.
Monterosso was third for the Godolphin team while Cape Blanco ran a huge race for Aidan O’Brien and Jamie Spencer in fourth, having been towards the front rank the whole way.
Twice Over, however, was never a factor from his wide draw, suffering a rough passage and never engaging top gear, eventually finishing ninth.
Winning rider Demuro was overcome with emotion following his victory.
He said: “It’s unbelievable. It’s just unbelievable to win the Dubai World Cup for Japan.”
Owner Yoshimi Ichikawa said: “It is a great souvenir to take back to Japan. I was very worried during the race as I didn’t know what would happen. I really appreciate the support we have had from all the people in Japan.”
O’Brien was thrilled with Cape Blanco, who was having his first run in the colours of Fitri Hay.
He said: “He ran a stormer and we are really delighted, especially as it was his first run of the season.
“Hopefully he is staying with me and we will be able to run him in the big races during the summer.”
Earlier on the mega-rich card, racing’s two superpowers came together for a titanic battle in the UAE Derby as Godolphin’s Khawlah prevailed over Coolmore runner Master Of Hounds by a nose.
Khawlah is a filly and now a dual Dubai Classic winner, having taken the UAE Oaks last time, and her quest for riches may not be over yet, as winning trainer Saeed Bin Suroor explained later.
French starlet Mickael Barzalona was doing the steering here, running down Ryan Moore and Master Of Hounds in the shadow of the post.
Bin Suroor said: “We thought she was one of our best chances of the night as she is a really good filly.
“We will take her back to Europe now and she could have the target of the English Oaks, maybe with a run in the Musidora at York first.”
Coral trimmed her to 12-1 from 20s for the Epsom Classic, and Bin Suroor went on: “I told Mickael just to keep her happy in the middle of the field, but it wasn’t easy for her in the last 100 yards.
“Mickael is a brilliant jockey. He has done really well for us and I think he is going to be one of the best in the world.”
O’Brien, having his first runners at Meydan and his first in Dubai for six years, said: “It’s a real privilege to be here, I am so honoured to be asked by Sheikh Mohammed to come and the treatment we have had is incredible.
“People have to see this place to believe it, it’s an incredible place. The vastness, the glamour and the size of it all no words can do it justice.
“We were delighted with both horses (O’Brien also saddled Alexander Pope). Master Of The Hounds ran a stormer for his first run of the year. He had good form last year and is a big, powerful colt.
“He got a little tired in the last 50 yards, but Ryan gave him a great ride.”
South African superstar JJ The Jet Planegot himself out of trouble to justify his favourite billing in the Al Quoz Sprint.
Trained by Michael ‘Lucky’ Houdalakis, the six-year-old is an experienced traveller, having spent a period with Richard Hannon in England, and had won his previous start at the course.
But jockey Bernard Fayd’Herbe found himself stuck in a pocket in the middle part of the race and it was only the speed of JJ The Jet Plane dropping down to five furlongs from his usual six that helped him hit the front close home to beat French raider War Artist by a head.
The Mick Halford-trained mare Invincible Ash ran a big race to be fourth for Johnny Murtagh, who said: “I thought I had it. I pulled out behind War Artist, I thought I would pick him off and then I didn’t see JJ coming from behind me and he got the pair of us.”
Frankie Dettori ensured there would be success on the night for Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed with a strong ride on Skysurfersto land the Group Two Godolphin Mile.
Dettori needed to roust the 4-1 favourite all the way to the line with Mufarrh putting up a determined challenge down the straight, but the Italian put him half a length in front close home.
“I knew I was on the best horse in the race, but being drawn 13 or 14 didn’t help,” said Dettori. “I got a position three-wide and a better draw would have made a couple of lengths difference.”
Another favourite was to oblige in the Dubai Golden Shaheen as Rocket Man(evens) wore down the American raider Euroears and went on to score by two and a quarter lengths.
Rocket Man is trained in Singapore but handler Patrick Shaw, his owners and his jockey Felix Coetzee are all South African, and had been unfortunate to have been touched off in this event a year ago by Kinsale King, who was a late withdrawal here.
“He’s been unlucky in a few of the big ones and he really deserved this,” said Shaw.
“He’s a pleasure to have and we’ll take him back to Singapore. He’ll run first in the Lion City Stakes and then go for the Kris Flyer.”